On Sat, 07 Jul 2012 10:37:22 -0700
Bart Schaefer <schaefer@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> A fairly recent addition to the doc for the (s::) parameter flag is this:
>
> For historical reasons, the usual behaviour that empty array
> elements are retained inside double quotes is disabled for arrays
> generated by splitting
>
> The thing is, I can't find anywhere else that "the usual behavior" of
> empty array elements is even mentioned.
>
> Far more interesting than the retention of empty array elements in double
> quotes, I think, is that empty array elements are NOT retained when the
> array parameter reference is NOT in quotes.
>
> Is there something I just haven't spotted? I confess
> I merely searched the doc rather than re-read it cover to cover.
I should have replied to this...
I don't think I've ever searched, so it's quite possible it's just something
"everyone knows", except when they don't. We should put something in
the parameter expansion section in any case.
--
Peter Stephenson <p.w.stephenson@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Web page now at http://homepage.ntlworld.com/p.w.stephenson/